HOLYOKE -- Heather G. Egan received $45,000 from the city as she resigned as city solicitor April 29 barely a year after Mayor Alex B. Morse appointed her in a deal mocked Tuesday by council President Kevin A. Jourdain as "another clandestine" move by Morse.

Morse said the "separation agreement" between the city and Egan was a standard step in public and private employment. But he said lawyers hired by the city advised that to protect Egan's privacy rights, he was unable to say why she was paid anything, let alone $45,000 specifically.

The exact reasons for Egan's departure were never disclosed, with Morse saying at the time only she left for "personal reasons," but Egan had been out during her brief tenure for weeks at a time on leave.

A copy of the city-Egan separation agreement (listed below) provided by Morse lacks details about why Egan quit. The agreement includes stipulations that both sides agree not to bring legal actions against the other.

The separation agreement also states that neither side will voluntarily disclose that such an agreement exists except as required by law under a public records request.

Morse also is required in the separation agreement to provide a letter of reference for Egan for future employment.

City Treasurer Jon D. Lumbra and City Auditor Brian G. Smith confirmed the city paid Egan $45,000. The city solicitor's salary is $70,000 a year.

"I'd like to know what authority the mayor has to pay that. I'm not aware of any," said Jourdain, a councilor since 1994.

"We've never given a solicitor a buyout before. This is unheard of," he said.

Jourdain provided a copy of an email he received in which Smith answered Jourdain's questions about the Egan exit agreement.

"The agreement was confidential (I received a significantly redacted copy), but was signed off by the mayor and law dept. With such an agreement and the money in place via the budget transfers requiring only the mayor's approval, I have no reason to deny nor the ability to further question this transaction. I must refer you to the mayor and law office for those answers," Smith said.

"This is another clandestine move by Mayor Morse," Jourdain said. "I think we need a little more transparency from Mayor Morse."

Mose replied, "That's a baseless accusation and nothing more than a political shot. This administration has been nothing but transparent, with the public, with the media and with other public officials."

But Morse refused to discuss why Egan was paid, saying he was advised to refrain from such comments by Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn, a Springfield law firm. He is authorized as city chief executive to make such budget transfers, he said.

"I can't discuss particular issues as to why it was in the mutual best interests" for the agreement to be reached, Morse said.

As for why the specific figure of $45,000 was paid to Egan, Morse said, "That was negotiated with Sullivan, Hayes & Quinn based on matters that can't be discussed publicly per the agreement."

Egan was appointed by Morse and approved unanimously by the City Council in March 2013 to lead the Law Department. She replaced Elizabeth Rodriguez-Ross who also worked barely a year as city solicitor.

Responding to Jourdain's questions, Smith said in the email that the $45,000 to Egan was paid using transfers in the city budget of $10,000 from the city solicitor salary account and $35,000 from the staff attorney salary account.

To Jourdain's question about whether City Council approval was needed for such steps, Smith said, "For the budget transfers, no. For the agreement (since I was provided very little of it), I do not have an answer for you. I must refer you to the law office."